Assessment of Effect of Intra-pocket Delivery of Metronidazole Loaded NTrimethyl Quaternary Ammonium Chitosan Nanoparticles in Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Background: Conventional drugs like metronidazole for periodontitis have shown several drawbacks. Based on in-vitro and acute toxicity studies on metronidazole-loaded n-trimethyl quaternary ammonium chitosan nanoparticles (NTMET NPs), animal studies were carried out to prove their enhanced activities against periodontitis. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of nanoparticles through an intra-pocket drug delivery concerning body weight, food consumption, clinical signs, gingival index, tooth mobility, inflammatory changes in periodontal tissues, and serum analysis, leading to gingival damage, connective tissues, and alveolar bone resorption. Methods: A P. gingivalis and ligature-induced periodontitis model was used to evaluate the effect of the drug on rats. Results: Periodontitis was successfully induced by using P. gingivalis and ligature in rats. It reflected elevated gingival index, tooth mobility, inflammatory changes in tissues, IL-6, TNF- α, and IL -1β compared to the control group and NTMET NPs treated groups. It was also observed that the damage caused to gingival tissues and resorption of alveolar bone was improved by using NTMET NPs. Conclusion: Based on present findings, we can conclude that NTMET NPs at a dose of 1.8 and 3.6 mg/ml had significant action on periodontal tissues and were able to reverse the effect of P. gingivalis as well as gingival damage and tooth mobility in rats at an administered dose, which was comparable to the IC50 value of a drug. The findings of the current study provide preclinical scientific data to support their clinical use for periodontitis via an intra-pocket drug delivery route.